Pivot retractable caster for furniture rails



NQV, M, 1950 M. SIMONOWITZ NOW BY JUDICIAL CHANGE OF NAME M. C. SIMON PIVOT RETRACTABLE CASTER FOR FURNITURE RAILS Filed Nov. 8, 1946 Patentecl Nov. 14, 1950 PIVOT RETRACTABLE CASTER FOR FURNITURE RAILS Max Simonowitz, Jamaica, N. Y.; now by judicial change of name Max 0. Simon Application November 8, 1946, Serial No. 708,592

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates totables and more particularly to a type of table or other object, adapted to be set upon one of its edges for the purpose of being rolled away.

It is an object of the present invention to provide in a table or other object side edge, a caster which can be moved from an out-of-use position flush with the table or other object side to an in use position removed from the table or other object side to expose the caster on which the table or other object will be rested when on its side.

'It is another object of the invention to provide in a table having casters which can be drawn out of the side of the table, a simple means for retaining the hinged element containing the casters in both its out-of-use and in use position, and against pivotal movement until a catch has been released.

According to the invention, there is provided in the side edge of the'table a hole into which a door-like element bearing a caster can be hinged. The edge of the door-like element is hinged to the side of the opening. In one form of the invention, the door is pivoted out of the opening so that its front face will bear against the side edge face of the table. A snap will retain the door-like element in this position so that the element is not free to return to its position within the opening. In a modified form of the invention, provision is made whereby the doorlike element will have its inner face lying flush within the side edge face opening, so that the sides of the door-like element will receive support from the side walls of an opening within the table edge to thereby make a more sturdy support for the caster when in use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the table in its set up position with the caster elements retracted into the table edge.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of the table to show more clearly the door- Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tablewhen on edge with the casters in their in use position serving to support the table for the transport of the same over the floor.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 2 with one of the door-like elements supporting the caster moved to its open position and fastened to the side face of the table edge.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view looking upon one corner of a table having a modified form of caster support element, wherein when the doorlike member containing the caster is in its open position, it will have support from the walls of an opening into which the door-like element is moved.

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the modified form of the invention taken along line 88 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows thereof.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken on the same line 8-8 of Fig. 7 but after the caster support door-like element has been moved to its in use position. I

Fig. 10 is a-det'ailed perspective view of the door-like element bearing the caster removed from the table opening.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 6, l5 represents a table top'having legs 16 at each corner, normally held in a down position by foldable braces I! but which can be folded into the bottom of the table-top as shown in Fig. 4. The table-top [5 has a side edge IS in which there are disposed two openings l9 laterally spaced from one another and adapted to contain doorl'ike elements 2| on the inner face of which there is connected a base 22 having a caster 23. This door-like element has its edge hinged toone edge of the opening, as indicated at 24, so that it can be drawn out of the openings and have its front face lie flush with the side edge face of the table. In order to retain the caster support element 2! in its open position and flush with the table edge, there is provided on the front face of the doorlike element and the front face of the table edge, cooperating snap fastener elements 25 and 25. When the door-like elements are in their open position, as shown in Fig. 5, the table can be supported upon its edge and upon the casters 23 for transport over a floor surface.

In order to retain the door-like element 2| in the opening, there is provided upon the edge opposite to the hinge a snap fastener 21 cooperating with the edge of the openings. To release the snap fastener 27, the hand is reached in behind the table edge and force is applied to the face of the door-like element 2| bearing the caster and the door-like element is pushed outwardly about its hinge connection 24. A door jamb 28 keeps the front face of the door-like element flush with the face of the table side edge. A finger grip 29 can be used to detach the door-like element from its connection with the front face at times when the door-like element and caster is to be returned to its out-of-use position within the opening.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 10, it will be noted that a different type of opening is used. This opening is indicated at 3| and has space to recelve the door-like element 2| in its pivoted in use position as well as its out-of-use position. The side edge of the table may be somewhat thicker than the side edge of the table shown in the previous figures. When the door-like element is in its closed position, as shown in Fig. 8, there will appear in the edge of the table a recess substantially twice the length of the door-like element 2|. With the door-like element swung to the open position its top, bottom and end edges will be supported by the walls of the openings 3| against vertical and sidewise displacement. This provides for a sturdier construction. Less strain is placed upon the hinge IS. A snap lock 33 is disposed in the end of the opening 3|. The same spring catch 33 will cooperate with a shoulder 34 at the opposite side of the opening to retain the door-like element 2| in its out-of-use position as shown in Fig. 8.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a simple means for connecting a caster to a table edge whereby the same can be moved to a position out of sight when the table is not to be transported or wherein the same can be moved to an in use position where it will be rigidly supported and secured to the table edge as at times when the table is to be transported upon the casters.

It is to be understood that this arrangement may be used on any type of table or other object for conveniently rolling the same.

In each form of the invention the caster and the block or door on which it is supported assumes a position flush with the outer face of the side of the furniture structure constructed to receive the caster and its block or door; and when the caster is in an open position this supporting block or door bears directly against the side of the furniture structure, so as to effectively resist normal load thrusts imposed on the caster.

In the construction shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, the carrying block or door is nested in a recess or compartment formed in the side of the furniture structure, when the caster is in open or load carrying position, and in this form of the invention the entire carrying block or door is thus supported against displacement in all directions.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letter Patent is:

The combination with a furniture structure having a side member provided with an elongated substantially rectangular recess formed longitudinally therein for a spaced depth, the inner face of said recess being divided vertically into identical sections, one of said sections being removed with the exception of a small shoulder retained integral with the back face of said side member and extending inwardly of said-removed section from the end of said recess, a block hinged to the remaining back face of the recess at the line of division of said sections, said block normally abutting with said shoulder and closing said removed section, a caster wheel and finger grip mounted on the rearwardly disposed face of said block, a fastening element carried on that end of said block remote to said hinged connection, a complementary fastening element carried on the end wall of said removed rear face section adjacent said shoulder retaining said block in closed disposition, and a second fastening element complementary to that element carried by said block secured to the end of said recess adjacent the closed section of said rear face to removably secure said block face flush with said remaining section and presenting the caster beyond the front face of the side member of the furniture structure.

MAX SIMONOWITZ, Now by judicial change of name Man: C. Simon.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,058,837 Zikmund Apr. 15, 1913 1,542,231 Garfield June 16, 1925 1,911,750 Collignon May 30, 1933 2,174,613 Blaschke Oct. 3, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 736,399 France Nov. 23, 1932 

